As the world becomes more eco-conscious, the controversies of fast fashion have become central to the fashion conversation over the past few years. The global population now consumes around 80 billion new items of clothing each year, which is a 400% increase in the amount consumed only two decades ago. Yet, as we constantly update our wardrobes to keep up with the riptide of changing trends, we also discard clothing at an alarming rate. In the United States, the average person now generates 82 pounds (37KG) of textile waste every year, a statistic unlikely to be a far cry from our own. Ranking second after the oil industry, fashion and textiles is the largest polluter on the planet, responsible for almost 20% of total global waste, however, when this same industry is valued to $3 trillion (€2.66 Trillion), it can be hard to bring about significant change. With Misguided or Pretty Little Thing hauls on Youtube still a dime a dozen and ultra-cheap online retailers like Wish and Aliexpress on the rise, it’s a challenge to turn an eye towards sustainable options. Many think that a sustainable tag equals greater expense, and while on average eco clothing can be 15 – 40% more expensive than their fast fashion alternatives, this isn’t the case in every instance. It is possible to shop sustainable on a student budget, and so to highlight these more planet-friendly substitutes, we’ve compiled a list of five great places to shop them online. 

 

Depop 

One of the most popular second-hand clothing apps of the moment, Depop is a tried and tested sustainable shopping platform. Prices range as wide as the products do – from pre-loved Pennys bargains to designer finds awaiting a new home. The app’s interface is fool-proof, appearing basically like the Instagram of clothes shopping. A simple search bar matched with filters help to narrow down your search into categories like size, brand and price. Results are listed first from Ireland (or wherever you’re located) and then from the rest of the world to raise the likelihood you’ll find something close to home and reduce shipping costs. A rating system for both buyers and sellers helps ensure you can trust who you’re dealing with, but if despite this not all goes to plan, a refund can be sought easily through Paypal or Depop itself to reduce stress to the minimum. 

 

ASOS Eco Edit 

As a one-stop-shop for many when buying clothes, Asos is one of the many high-street retailers making a step into the sustainable market. The Eco Edit is a curated list, which can be found on the main website, of ethically-sourced products and companies which support sustainable business models. There’s no new interface to learn how to navigate if you’re already familiar, as it matches Asos’ usual model, with filters to assort your search into product type, brand, size, colour and price range. The fantastic size range caters to everyone, spanning between UK 2 and UK 30, and can even be arranged into a particular waist, leg or cup size. A plethora of well-known brands make the cut, among them namedly Adidas, & Other Stories, Monki and Cheap Monday. Standard delivery to Ireland is only €3, but free on orders of over €35 and if you’re unhappy with your item, returns are just as easy, simply print a returns label and drop the parcel into your nearest post office free of charge. 

 

Nu Wardrobe 

This Dublin-born business makes clothes sharing the quick and easy solution to that missing piece from your wardrobe. Participants are charged a standard membership fee which can be paid out monthly or annually and are then allowed to borrow to their hearts’ content at no extra cost. The process is quick and easy to use as members upload items of clothing they wish to share, browse the wardrobes of others and once discovered, collect their chosen article in person or have it delivered to them via bike. Contracts between borrower and lender ensure the safe return and cleanliness of the clothing, with Nu overseeing the whole interaction to keep things stress-free. This summer, the company also launched their new app service. Although, it is unfortunately only currently available in East London, those interested can sign up through the website in Dublin, Cambridge or Cork, where they’ll be added to a local waiting list and alerted when the app becomes available in these areas. 

 

Zalando 

Much like ASOS, Zolando is a second large retailer dipping into the pool of sustainable clothing choices. A quick scroll through the homepage reveals a host of big-name brands including Tommy Hilfiger, Weekday, French Connection and Levi’s but as always, filters are available to hone-in on specific search criteria. A number of sustainable certificate symbols are used to guarantee an items green credentials so you know exactly what you’re dealing with. Among them, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Fairtrade, EU Ecolabel, Organic Content Standard (OCS) and Global Recycled Standard (GRS). Options are also available to shop a particular sustainable fabric, ranging from lyocell to organic cotton and denim. Not only is the company expanding on its eco-friendly fashion options, it’s also making steps forward with its packaging, aiming to have 100% of the packaging produced by the Zalando brand to be sustainably sourced by 2020. 

 

ASOS Marketplace

A second ASOS option! The Marketplace is full of independent brands and vintage boutiques from around the world. Although not everything you find here will be sustainably sourced, there is a specific eco section to take the fuss out of your search. Brimming with vintage picks and reworked modern brands, this is a great place to find something a bit more unusual than that stocked on the highstreet. The Marketplace interface differs slightly to the main ASOS website but is just as easy to navigate, the search bar can even be narrowed down into a particular vintage era or material. Prices range as far as the clothing items but there is plenty to be found for as low as €25 and under in sizing options from UK 6 to UK 18.